P-609 Contractors Working on Fire Department Property

Date of Issue: 1999/11/03

PURPOSE:

To establish a safe and proper work environment on Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency property in keeping with the Department of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Act.

OBJECTIVE:

To ensure the safety of anyone working on HRFE property by defining the responsibilities of HRFE members when present while contractors are working.

SCOPE:

This policy applies to career and volunteer members of HRFE. 

POLICY: 

The following policy is intended to familiarize contractors with the Department’s spotter expectations. Contractors are required to adhere to all Provincial and Federal Legislation, as well as, Policies and Procedures regarding occupational health and safety.

Prior to the commencement of any work by outside contractors, or by Halifax Regional Municipality work crews, where Department employees will be affected, notification will be made to the station personnel by the Logistics Division. This notification shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1.    Locations
2.    Plans (including time frame)
3.    Extent of work
4.    Materials to be used, including MSDS if applicable.
5.    Measures to be taken to prevent health and safety hazards.

Contractors and their employees, prior to their carrying out work on Fire property are to be given a copy of this Policy by the Logistics Division.The contractor, or his representative, will report to the station officer/station personnel upon his initial arrival to carry out work. The station officer/station personnel will be informed of any dangers and the precautions that will have to be followed to eliminate any hazards to the safety and health of the Department personnel.

The station officer/personnel will advise the contractor of any unsafe areas of work and any conditions that can develop which may cause injuries to his employees. All Policies or Operating Guidelines on safety that may relate to the area of the intended work will be made available to the contractor. This information is to be passed on to the employees of the contractor by the contractor.

The contractor will supply, the company’s safety policy outlining the safety program including the safety training of their employees to the Logistics Division prior to work starting. The contractor will carry out his work in a safe manner, using safe practices; Machinery that is in proper working order; Supply equipment that meets a safe workplace requirement; and uses materials that are not hazardous to people or the environment.

The contractor will cease operations when informed of an unsafe condition by the Manager of Safety or designate, Logistics Division, Station Officer or designate. This work will not resume until the condition has been corrected. Upon a disagreement of the acceptable safe level of the work between the contractor and the Department, the Department of Labour may be contacted for a ruling. Their ruling will be taken as a standard.The contractor is responsible for developing an emergency procedure covering activities starting from initial injury to the transportation of the injured employee to the hospital, if required.

As a minimum, the emergency procedure should address the following concerns:
•    Communication systems to be used in case of emergency
•    Emergency phone list
•    Transportation to hospital
•    Notification of the Department of Labour
•    Notification of family

All contractor (s) working on, or in Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency property shall be required to wear appropriate personal protective clothing, in particular proper safety footwear and/or protective hard hat as required.

POLICY REVIEW:

This policy shall be reviewed when/if there are changes/amendments to the responsibilities given to HRFE employees when contractors are working on HRFE property.